NPSL Media

CINDY SPERA NAMED MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE NPSL

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) has named Cindy Spera as the league’s Managing Director.

“We are so fortunate to have within the NPSL family a proven leader who has shown success in both soccer and business,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone added. Cindy’s played many, many critical roles in the building of the NPSL so she can fit right in and manage the league accordingly.”

Spera had a decorated playing career that began at Cornell University, where she was part of the women’s soccer program from 1988 through 1991. She received Soccer America Freshman All-American Team (1998), Ivy League Rookie of the Year (1988), First Team All-Ivy League (1991), and Northeast All-American (1991) honors during her time at Cornell. Spera also played for the Long Island Rough Riders from 1994 through 2002, winning national titles in 1995 and 1997. She was also part of three USASA National Championships with New York Athletic Club as a player (2007), player/Chairperson (2010), and Chairperson of Soccer (2014).

“This is an exciting time to be involved with soccer in this country,” Spera commented. “The amateur game and grassroots soccer, and leagues like the NPSL, will play an important part in the evolution of soccer in the United States. I am excited to apply my combination of soccer and business experience to develop the league and bring it to the next level of success.”

Spera has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry. She started her career at Chemical Bank in their collateralized lending group. In 1997, she joined Morgan Stanley and remained there for 16 years. She joined the organization as a financial controller, and eventually moved into various areas of project work. Her longest role within Morgan Stanley lasted eight years and involved analyzing global markets for new Operations and Technology centers with a focus on financial sustainability. During her last years at Morgan Stanley she was the COO of Global Operations for the firm, and part of a team that produced consolidated management reporting for the firm’s Global Technology and Operations areas, which had a combined budget of $4.2 billion.

Spera has also held high-level positions with a number of soccer leagues and organizations. She served as New York Athletic Club’s Chairperson of Soccer for five years in addition to serving on their Board of Governors from 2015 to present. Spera spent time as the North Region Commissioner for the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and currently serves as a conference liaison. She also served on the Cosmopolitan Soccer League’s Board of Directors for two years. With the NPSL, Spera spent three years on the league’s Board of Directors as Treasurer. She later served as the league’s Director of Operations.